Numerical simulation of the priming process of satellite propulsion system

An analytical model is developed using the water hammer and one-dimensional fluid transient theory.Based on the finite difference method of characteristics,the hydrokinetics models and model for the head of fluid are established.The average friction model and the frequency-dependent dynamic friction model are adopted to simulate the frictional resistance in the transient fluid equations.During the simulation of the priming process,the variation of sonic speed affected by the gas dissolved in the liquid is taken into account.The comparison with the experimental results shows: numerical models give reasonable descriptions for water hammer and flow oscillation,and could provide guidance for transient analysis of priming process in pipelines of other propulsion system.